Kahn News Presents: Top Winter Driving Tips
Feb 18, 2020

As weather forecasters issue warnings, drivers are being reminded how to cope with the difficult conditions.

With colder weather beginning to take more of a stronghold throughout the latter part of October and quite possibly into November, the prospect of freezing temperatures and gale force winds is likely to lead to increasingly difficult driving conditions.

Kahn News would like to take this opportunity to remind drivers to be vigilant in the coming weeks and months ahead.

The following tips should be of assistance to drivers throughout the winter period.

Read on for our complete guide to driving in the colder months.

Prepare your car for winter

1. Ensure your tyres have plenty of tread left on them and are inflated to the pressure specified in your car’s handbook.

2. Consider fitting cold weather tyres. These are becoming more popular in the UK and offer substantially improved grip when the temperature drops below seven degrees.

3. Check your vehicle’s coolant level is to the correct level and is the correct proportion of water and antifreeze (normally 50 per cent each), to prevent your engine from freezing solid.

4. Next, check your wiper blades are in good condition. They shouldn’t be brittle or have rips or tears, and leave the window streak-free.

5. Make sure your indicators, fog and headlights are in full working order.

6. Kahn News would like to remind drivers that it is possible to put their car through a pre-winter check to flag up any potential problems. It would be wise to get any issues addressed now than at the side of the road on a freezing January morning.

To arrange a pre-winter check, contact our representatives on 01274 74 99 99

Drive safely

1. Check for signs of ice before driving – anything below four degrees centigrade means ice is likely.

2. Plan your journey around busier roads as they are more likely to have been gritted. Avoid minor roads, which are less likely to have been gritted and cleared of snow.

3. Anticipate your actions well in advance. Double or triple your normal stopping distance from the vehicle in front so you are not relying on your brakes to be able to stop.

4. Take care and slow down. Do not drive too fast that you risk losing control. If you are driving in wet conditions, move off in a higher gear, rather than using first for better control.

5. Slow down before you get to bends, so that by the time you turn the steering wheel you have already lost enough speed.

Be prepared

Ensure you have an ice scraper, de-icer spray, demister pad or cloth, gloves and torch in the car at all times. We’d also recommend packing spare bulbs for your car’s exterior lights, hi-visibility and warm clothing, a tow rope and a charger for your mobile phone. If you live in a rural area you may also want to carry a snow shovel.

If your car gets stuck in snow and you can’t move it, stay in the car, leave the engine running and call for help unless help is visible nearby.

Clear snow away from the exhaust and dig away snow from the tyres and gently rock the car back and forth to gain grip. If that doesn’t work, use car mats, bits of wood or anything else nearby and wedge under the tyres to gain grip.